Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan brought 60 pilgrims of State rescued in Uttarakhand to Bhopal by a special plane on Monday. This was the eighth flight for airlifting State's pilgrims. Chouhan reiterated that Uttarakhand’s natural calamity should be declared a national disaster and a national policy should be chalked out to preserve environment and balanced development.
The Chief Minister returned to Bhopal on Monday after taking stock of relief and rescue operations in Uttarakhand. At the airport, he garlanded each pilgrim and sent them off to their respective destinations. He said that Uttarakhand's calamity was the biggest natural disaster which had affected a lot of families. So far, State's 5,330 pilgrims have been rescued from Uttarakhand. Two more flights will bring pilgrims from Dehradun. Moreover, 1,301 pilgrims have been brought by plane in addition to 4,000 brought by buses.
State's relief and rescue camp at Shanti Kunj, Hariwar provided medical attention and meals to 7,204 pilgrims and financial assistance to 1,256 pilgrims. Helicopters sent from the State rescued 292 pilgrims from State Uttarakhand and 247 from other States. Relief camp at Haridwar will continue its operations. A team has been constituted under the leadership of IG Pramod Phalnikar to trace missing pilgrims. The team will operate with the cooperation of Uttarakhand Government and Army.
Chouhan said that an appeal has been made to Uttarakhand Chief Minister that rescue work should be continued. A photo-bearing list of State's 593 missing pilgrims has been prepared and sent to Uttarakhand Government. Total number of State's missing pilgrims is 741. Photographs of remaining pilgrims are being collected. Assistance worth Rs 50,000 each will be given to the families whose members are missing in Uttarakhand. If missing pilgrims are not traced even after one week, concerning family members will be provided Rs 2 lakh each.
The children who have lost both parents in the calamity will be provided Rs 5 lakh each. He said that the State Government will rebuild one village devastated by calamity in Uttarakhand. Relief camp at Haridwar will be continued at present. One more team comprising state's officers will be sent to Haridwar on Tuesday.
Culture Minister laxmikant Sharma along with State's team will stay back to coordinate relief and rescue operations at the camp. He said that parents of a girl from Gwalior Snehlata are missing in Uttarakhand. She will be provided permanent government job. Chief Secretary R Parasuram and CM's wife Sadhna Singh also came along with the Chief Minister to Bhopal.